Cavs Earn Most National TV Appearances

People must really like that LeBron James fellow, because his Cleveland Cavaliers will appear on national TV more than any other team during the 2009-10 season. The Cavs will be featured on ABC, ESPN or TNT some 25 times this season.

The Lakers, Celtics and Magic will all make 24 appearances on national TV. The Nuggets (21), Spurs (20) and Suns (18) follow. Five teams -- the Kings, Bobcats, Bucks, Nets and (amazingly) Rockets -- have no national TV games scheduled.

A full accounting of the national TV schedule after the jump.

More Coverage: Full NBA Schedule Released

Note: No games on NBA TV were included in my counts. NBA TV isn't available in nearly as many households as the other ubiquitous networks, and NBA TV is doing the ol' "Fan Night" again, where viewers pick the games on Tuesdays.

Here's the rundown:

Cleveland, 25
Boston, 24
Orlando, 24
L.A. Lakers, 24
Denver, 21
San Antonio, 20
Phoenix, 18
Portland, 17
Miami, 15
Utah, 13
Chicago, 13
Dallas, 13
New Orleans, 9
L.A. Clippers, 8
Golden State, 8
Washington, 8
Atlanta, 6
New York, 5
Detroit, 4
Philadelphia, 2
Minnesota, 1
Oklahoma City, 1
Toronto, 1
Memphis, 1
Indiana, 1
Houston, 0
Sacramento, 0
Charlotte, 0
Milwaukee, 0
New Jersey, 0

Yep, the Pacers, Grizzlies and Timberwolves all got a game ... but the Rockets didn't. I understand that this Yao Ming dude is important and injured, I realize Tracy McGrady will be on the shelf for a while. But Shane Battier! Trevor Ariza! Luis Scola! Get them on TV!

And yes, you're reading that correctly: the Clippers (19-63 record last season) and Wizards (ditto) each have eight nationally televised games this year.